Jonesboro AR vs Rockford IL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Rockford, IL

Illinois · Population: 147,649

Median HH Income$53,328
Median Home Price$180,220
Unemployment8.6%
Bachelor's+23.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

147,649

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

37.5

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

12.3%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

55.5%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

21.8%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

3.7%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

20.6%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Population	N/A	147,649	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	37.5	-
Foreign Born	N/A	12.3%	-
White	N/A	55.5%	-
Black	N/A	21.8%	-
Asian	N/A	3.7%	-
Hispanic	N/A	20.6%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

$53,328

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

$30,409

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Rockford

$68,110

Rockford +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

8.6%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

21.9%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

23.2%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$53,328	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$30,409	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$68,110	Rockford +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	8.6%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	21.9%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	23.2%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Rockford

$180,220

Rockford +

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

53.8%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$180,220	Rockford +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	53.8%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Rockford

344

Rockford +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Rockford

1842

Rockford +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	344	Rockford +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	1842	Rockford +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Rockford

44.7%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Rockford

15.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Rockford

19.0%

Rockford +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Rockford

14.0%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Rockford

15.5%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Rockford

18.1%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	44.7%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	15.4%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	19.0%	Rockford +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	14.0%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.5%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	18.1%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Rockford

49.2°F

Rockford +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Rockford

36.2 in

Rockford +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	49.2°F	Rockford +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	36.2 in	Rockford +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Rockford

9.4 µg/m³

Rockford +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Rockford

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	9.4 µg/m³	Rockford +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Rockford

22.7 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Rockford, IL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	22.7 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Rockford offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $180,220. On public safety, Rockford is safer with a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Rockford has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.4 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Jonesboro & Rockford

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